Mold for concrete test beam

ABSTRACT

A mold for casting a concrete test beam having precise crosssectional and length dimensions, the mold being formed from heavy gauge sheet metal and having a bottom panel with downwardly extending side flanges, a pair of side panels having outwardly extending end flanges and a top flange along the upper edge of the side panel, and end panels having a height, in use, equal to that of the side panels, and a minimum of at least two bolts fixed to each of the end flanges of the side panels and the side flanges of the bottom panel for projection through complementary holes in the abutting portions of the other panels which engage the same, whereby wing nuts tightly and effectively clamp the side panels to the bottom panel and connect the end panels to the side panels in a substantially watertight manner, the end panels also having handles projecting outwardly therefrom and the upper flanges on the side panels providing guide surfaces for a striking tool to level the concrete when poured into the mold.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Earl F. Moritz Dallastown; Georgef. Wagman. Jr.. [21] Appl. No. 818,663 [22] Filed Apr. 23, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee Wagman Metal Products, inc.

Dallastown, Pa.

[54] MOLD FOR CONCRETE TEST BEAM 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 249/166, 220/4, 107/19, 31/44, 25/1 18M, 18/34M, 249/Test Mold Digest [51] Int. Cl B41b 11/60 [50] Field of Search 249/163, 165,166,160,50;25/118(P.Q.M),125,119, 121 (P); 18/34 (M); 107/19; 31/44; 220/4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,167,568 1/1916 Johnson 249/166 1,602,035 10/1926 McLaughlin 249/ 166x 2,610,756 9/1952 Best 3,385,554 5/1968 Anderson Primary Examiner.l. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-DeWalden W. Jones Attorney-C Hercus Just ABSTRACT: A mold for casting a concrete test beam having precise cross-sectional and length dimensions, the mold being formed from heavy gauge sheet metal and having a bottom panel with downwardly extending side flanges, a pair of side panels having outwardly extending end flanges and a top flange along the upper edge of the side panel, and end panels having a height, in use, equal to that of the side panels, and a minimum of at least two bolts fixed to each of the end flanges of the side panels and the side flanges of the bottom panel for projection through complementary holes in the abutting portions of the other panels which engage the same, whereby wing nuts tightly and effectively clamp the side panels to the bottom panel and connect the end panels to the side panels in a substantially watertight manner, the end panels also having handles projecting outwardly therefrom and the upper flanges on the side panels providing guide surfaces for a striking tool to level the concrete when poured into the mold.

PATENIEnnAmslsn I $570,801

INVENTOR 22 38 GEORGE F. WAGMAN JR. 24 EARL F. MORITZ FIG.5 BY

ATTORNEY MOLD FOR CONCRETE TEST BEAM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various kinds of molds having panels which are disengageable from each other have been provided heretofore for making concrete test beams. A number of dissatisfactory features have been included in these molds, however, the first being that certain of said molds are formed from cast iron or steel, whereby the same were heavy to handle, especially when filled with a concrete beam while setting within the mold sufficiently to permit removal of the mold from the beam. The second difficulty is that when molds of this type have been formed from sheet metal, they are constructed in such a way that they readily warp and bend after a short period of use and thus no longer afford precise smooth surfaces on all faces of the test beam, in addition to permitting the leakage of wet concrete through cracks resulting from such warpage. Still a third difficulty is that in an effort to cure some of the foregoing difficulties, very complex and sophisticated arrangements have been developed which render the molds somewhat difficult to handle and also add materially to the cost thereof. Illustrative of certain of these difficulties is the mechanism shown in US. Pat. No. 807,062, in the name of Coltrin, issued in 1905. A showing of a more recent US. Pat. representing certain of the difficulties is US. Pat; No. 3,348,802, to Corbett, issued in SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal purpose of the present invention is to provide a very simple and correspondingly inexpensive mold formed from heavy gauge sheet metal comprising a bottom panel, two side panels, and two end panels, which are provided with connecting means primarily in the nature of flanges which flatly abut complementary surfaces on other panels in a manner to form a substantially watertight joint and the flanges are so designed as to reinforce the panels against warping or accidental bending except under severe circumstances resulting from careless use not intended to be exercised in mechanism of this type which is of a relatively accurate nature for forming concrete test beams of precise cross-sectional and length dimensions. I

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide the botto panel with supporting and connecting flanges along opposite edges thereof which extend downwardly in use for the dual purpose of the lower edges of the flanges serving as support means engageable with a supporting surface and thereby providing a space beneath the central portion of the bottom panel which is open at the opposite ends thereof when the end panels are removed and thus affords a hand or finger opening by which a molded concrete test beam upon said bottom panel can be handled, either to assist in removing the test beam from the panel or while the panel is serving as a pallet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide said connecting flanges particularly on the side panels and bottom panel in such a way that they are readily adapted to be pierced by holes to receive threaded bolts which, with respect to opposite ends of the side panels and opposite sides of the bottom panel, extend outwardly from each other, in position to be readily projected through complementary holes in the panels which are to be bolted thereto, preferably by wing nuts, which afford rapid and secure connection of all of the panels to each other, said bolts being secured nonrotatably with respect to the flanges which support them, such as by suitable tack welding or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the upper edges of the side panels with elongated top flanges which,

when the side panels are connected to the bottom panel, project outwardly in use and therefore in opposite directions with respect to each other but within a common plane along which a striking tool or blade may be moved slidably in customary manner to level and smooth the upper surface of the test beam being cast or molded within said mold.

A still further object of the invention is to provide simple but effective U-shaped handles which are fixed by welding or otherwise to the outer surfaces of the end panels to afford ready means for handling the mold either before or after concrete has been poured into the same, said handles being so positioned with respect to the wing nuts on the ends of the bolts which project through the end panels that they will not interfere with the operation of such wing nuts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a mold for forming a concrete test beam comprising end and side panels connected together and to a bottom panel in the preferred manner of assembly thereof.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mold shown in FIG. I to illustrate details of the various panels and connecting means therefor.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mold shown in the preceding FIGS, on a smaller scale than employed therein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively are fragmentary side and end views of one of the connecting bolts and an exemplary manner of affixing the same to a flange which supports it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS relatively heavy gauge. By way of example and not limitation,

heavy duty l2-gauge sheet steel has been found highly suitable, especially for forming a beam 6 inches X 8 inches in cross section and 22 inches long. Such beam is standard in certain states for testing purposes. However, these dimensions also are merely illustrative rather than limiting inasmuch as various states have different dimensions for test beams from the dimensions illustratively set forth above. Obviously, if larger beams are required for certain purposes, proportionately heavier gauge sheet metal, such as steel, may be required, depending upon the shape of the mold required.

The bottom panel 12 is provided with a pair of similar supporting and reinforcing side flanges 22 and 24 which are formed by sharply bending opposite side portions of the panel 12 perpendicularly thereto. In use, the flanges 22 and 24 extend downwardly from the panel I2 for resting upon a supporting surface, such as a floor, bench or the like. It thus will be seen that the panels 22 and 24 adequately brace the panel 12 against any appreciable deflection. Further, said flanges are sufficiently long that they afford a space 26 beneath the panel R2, in use, whereby when at least the end panels 18 and 20 have been removed from the mold, the opposite ends of said space provide ready means to receive the hands or fingers of an operator to facilitate handling as well as aiding in removal of a test concrete beam from the bottom panel 12. Under some circumstances, the bottom panel 12 serves as a pallet to support a poured or cast beam after the same has set sufficiently to permit removal of the side and end panels.

The side panels 14 and 16 are precisely the same length as the bottom panel t2. Opposite ends of the side panels are provided with attaching and reinforcing flanges 28 and 30. When the side panels Hand 16 are in use, the arrangement is such that the upper edges thereof also are provided with elongated reinforcing top flanges 32. All of the flanges 28, 30 and 32 are precisely perpendicular with respect to each of the side panels M and 16, whereby it will be seen, particularly in FIG. t, that the pair of top flanges 32 of the side panels 14 and 16 will project outwardly in opposite directions from each other within a common plane. They thus serve as a supporting surface for a smoothing or striking tool or blade for leveling and smoothing the upper surface of a concrete test beam after being poured into the mold for setting therein. Further, the lengths of the side panels 14 and 16, with respect to the bottom panel 12, are determined by the outer surfaces of the flanges 28 and 30 thereon, whereby said outer surfaces of said flanges are within the same planes as the end surfaces of the bottom panel 12 and its depending flanges 22 and 24 when the side panels 14 and 16 are connected to bottom panel 12 by means to be described hereinafter.

To facilitate bending the flanges 28, 3G and 32 relative to the side panels 14 and 56, it is preferred that the upper ends of the flanges 28 and 30 as well as the opposite ends of flange 32 extend at an acute angle to the bend line of the flanges, preferably approximately 45, whereby the adjacent ends of the end flanges 28 and 30 and the top flange 32 will not interfere with each other after said flanges have been bent into perpendicular relationship with the side flanges.

In use, the width of the end panels 18 and 20 is preferably precisely equal to the dimension between the outer edges of the pairs of flanges 28 and 30 of the side panels 14 and 16 when the latter have been connected to the bottom panel 12 and extend perpendicularly thereto. Similarly, the height of the end panels 18 and 2G, in use, is precisely equal to the height of the side panels 14 and 16 and the upper edges of the end panels 18 and 20 lie precisely within the plane of the upper surfaces of the top flanges 32 of the side panels 14 and 1 16. Thus, no impedance is offered by the end panels to a striking blade or tool when moved along the flanges 32 to level and smooth a cast test beam within the mold. Further, the upper corners 34 of the end panels 18 and 20 are removed preferably at an angle corresponding to the upper ends of the end flanges 28 and 30 of side panels 14 and 16 and thereby offer no sharp corners which conceivably could interfere with a workman when leveling and smoothing the upper surface of a poured beam within the mold.

All of the panels are secured together by very simple connecting means preferablycomprising a pair of bolts 36 which extend through holes of complementary diameter formed within the flanges 22 and 24 of bottom panel 12 and the end flanges 28 and 30 of each of the side panels 14 and 16. Said bolts are secured nonrotatably as well as perpendicularly with respect to said flanges which support the same by appropriate means such as tack welds 38, shown in exemplary manner in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The bolts 36 are positioned in said flanges inwardly from the outer ends thereof and in spaced relationship longitudinally with respect to each other so as to distribute the clamping forces afforded by the bolts proportionately along said flanges so as to minimize the possibility of bending or warping of the flanges when securing the panels connected thereby into tight engagement with said flanges. Wing nuts 40 preferably are used with respect to bolts 36, particularly for ease of operation and the elimination'of any need to use a wrench to tighten the panels and abutting flanges together.

Further, the bolts 36 in the depending flanges 22 and 24 of bottom panel 12 are spaced from the tower edges of said flanges sufficiently that when the same project through the holes 42 in the lower portions of the side panels 14 and 16, the ends of the wings of the wing nuts 40 which engage said bolts will not contact a supporting surface upon which the moi-d is resting for support. The same situation exists with respect to the lowermost bolts 36 in the end flanges 28 and 30 of side panels 14 and 16 when received within the complementary holes therefor in the end panels 14 and 20 relative to operation of the wing nuts 40 to be threaded upon said bolts.

When the mold is to be assembled, the side panels 14 and 16 are first firmly ciamped against the outer surfaces of the depending flanges 22 and 24 of the bottom panel, whereby the side panels extend accurately and perpendicularly with respect to the bottom panel 12 and in parallelism with respect to each other. The end panels 18 and 20 then are abutted against the outer surfaces of the end flanges 28 and 30 of side panels 14 and 16 for reception of the boits 36 in said end flanges within the holes in the end panels. The latter holes are of such diameter that they afford only very limited clearance with respect to the bolts "which extend therethrough and thus insure the aforementioned perpendicularly of the side panels 14 and 16 with respect to bottom panel 12 when the wing nuts are secured to the bolts 36 on the end flanges 28 and 30.

After such connection of all of the aforementioned panels to each other, the lower edges of the side and end panels preferably are precisely within the same plane as the lower edges of the depending flanges 22 and 24 of bottom panel 12 so as to afford a composite type of support for the mold upon a supporting surface and thereby further minimize the possiblity of bending or warping of any of the panels while the mold is in process of being filled with a fluid concrete mix from which a test beam is to be formed.

Handling of the assembled mold 10 is also facilitated by the provision of a pair of similar, preferably U-shaped panels 44 which, for convenience and low manufacturing cost. preferably are secured to the outer surfaces of the end panels by weldments 46. As will be seen particularly from FIGS. 1 and 2, the side legs of the handles 44 are bent at an angle intermediately of the ends thereof so as to space the intermediate bar portions of the handles adequately away from the end panels 18 and 29 so as to facilitate the reception of the fingers of a workman around the handles, such adequate space being best illustrated in FIG. 3. The handles 44 are formed from suitable cylindrical bar stock of adequate diameter capable of withstanding accidental bending of the handles. Also, the handles 44 are of such strength that they will sustain engagement by the hook of a hoisting pulley, for example, if such use is desired, without appreciable deformation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the mold comprising the present invention that embodies the details iiiustrated in the drawing and described hereinabove is extremely simple, whereby the same may be manufactured at minimum expense while insuring adequate strength to prevent accidental warping or bending of the panels which comprise the mold. Connecting and supporting flanges on certain of the panels are so arranged that they serve a dual function of supporting an adjacent panel as well as strengthening the panel upon which the flanges are formed. The arrangement is such that the panels are capable of long life even under normal, somewhat rough usage, due, for example, to the provision of double thickness bottom supporting edges provided by the panels and connecting flanges against which they abut.

We claim:

1. A. mold for casting a concrete test beam of precise dimensions comprising in combination, a rectangular flat bottom panel having opposite side edge portions sharply bent perpendicularly thereto into parallelism with each other to form a pair of supporting and reinforcing flanges, the outer edges of said flanges being engageable with a supporting surface in use to support said panel in spaced relation to such supporting surface, a pair of complementary flat rectangular side panels having a length similar to said bottom panel and the opposite end portions and one side edge portion thereof being sharply bent perpendicularly thereto to form flanges, the other side edge portions of said panels being .adapted respectively to overlie and coincide as a supporting edge with said supporting flanges of said bottom panel, whereby similar bent end portions of said side panels lie and extend outwardly from each other within common planes with each other and the ends of said bottom panel when said side panels are connected thereto, a pair of fiat end panels respectively adapted to extend across the ends of said side panels and overlie said bent end flanges thereof, threaded bolts connected to certain of said overlying portions of said panels and flanges adapted to project through complementary holes in the abutting panels or flanges, and nuts threadable upon said bolts to secure said side and end panels detachably connected to each other and said bottom panel.

2. The mold according to claim 1 in which said flanges on the side edges of said side panels are within a common plane parallel to said bottom panel when said panels are connected thereto, whereby said flanges serve as guide surfaces for a a striking blade to level concrete within the mold at the comple-.

when connected to the end flanges of said side panels having an uppermost edge in use lying within the plane of said flanges along the side edge portions of said side flanges and the opposite edge of said end panels lying substantially within the plane of the outer edges of the flanges of said bottom panel, and said end panels having U-shaped handles connected to the outer surfaces thereof in use. 

1. A mold for casting a concrete test beam of precise dimensions comprising in combination, a rectangular flat bottom panel having opposite side edge portions sharply bent perpendicularly thereto into parallelism with each other to form a pair of supporting and reinforcing flanges, the outer edges of said flanges being engageable with a supporting surface in use to support said panel in spaced relation to such supporting surface, a pair of complementary flat rectangular side panels having a length similar to said bottom panel and the opposite end portions and one side edge portion thereof being sharply bent perpendicularly thereto to form flanges, the other side edge portions of said panels being adapted respectively to overlie and coincide as a supporting edge with said supporting flanges of said bottom panel, whereby similar bent end portions of said side panels lie and extend outwardly from each other within common planes with each other and the ends of said bottom panel when said side panels are connected thereto, a pair of flat end panels respectively adapted to extend across the ends of said side panels and overlie said bent end flanges thereof, threaded bolts connected to certain of said overlying portions of said panels and flanges adapted to project through complementary holes in the abutting panels or flanges, and nuts threadable upon said bolts to secure said side and end panels detachably connected to each other and said bottom panel.
 2. The mold according to claim 1 in which said flanges on the side edges of said side panels are within a common plane parallel to said bottom panel when said panels are connected thereto, whereby said flanges serve as guide surfaces for a striking blade to level concrete within the mold at the completion of a filling operation.
 3. The mold according to claim 1 in which there are at least two bolts connected to each end flange of said side panels and each supporting flange of said bottom panel, said bolts being spaced apart from each other and inwardly from the ends of said flanges to insure tight abutment of the overlying portions of said panels and flanges with each other.
 4. The mold according to claim 1 in which said end panels when connected to the end flanges of said side panels having an uppermost edge in use lying within the plane of said flanges along the side edge portions of said side flanges and the opposite edge of said end panels lying substantially within the plane of the outer edges of the flanges of said bottom panel, and said end panels having U-shaped handles connected to the outer surfaces thereof in use. 